My car is 5yrs. old and only has 16,000 mi.. Even though the tires look like new, is it time to chane the tires? In a few weeks I'm taking my car on a 5 hour trip.
2007-02-04 14:04:09 · 18 answers · asked by Christine 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Buying & Selling
Their should be no less than 4/32 worth of tread left on the tires. Make sure their are no signs of uneven wear which would implicate over or under inflation, or front end problems. Sometimes it is hard to see any dry rotting by just looking at the tires. Take a flashlight to them and check closely that way.
Tire warranties can range from 30,000 to 100,000 miles. The average warranty is around 60,000.
Since the vehicle only has 16,000 miles on it, the tires should have been rotated twice already. The tires should be rotated every other oil change. Have them check for proper balancing also.
Have a tire shop do an inspection for you. This should be a free service. They should also be able to detect if their are any problems such as a broken belt or tread seperation.
You can also check the age of the tires by checking the DOT number located near the hole of the tire. (Could be on either side.) The last two digits are the year the tires were made.
Good luck with your new vehicle and have a safe trip.
2007-02-04 14:18:26 · answer #1 · answered by Nunya 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most say that tires have reached their life at 5 years....whether the miles are there or not. Just because you can't see cracking or dry rot doesn't mean its not there or hasn't started inside the tire. To find this out at freeway speeds is not a wise item.
Just like oil....all things on a car break down over time. Oil is 3,000 miles OR 3 months. Tires are the same way...the miles for the tire OR 5 years.
Being that they are due and you are wanting to go on a long trip....I would not want to risk breaking down. I personally would get new tires....one for safety, two for the fact that is the ONLY part of the car that touches the pavement and last for ride quality.
Always better to be safe than sorry.
2007-02-04 22:27:54 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
16,000 is not very many miles for today's tires most tires that come on a new car will 3 times that mileage. At 5 years they should not be dry-rotted yet either to check look into the groves of the tread if there are no visible cracks and the tread is evenly worn on the whole tire they will be fine.
2007-02-04 22:23:20 · answer #3 · answered by Pat B 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Take a penny and place it between the tire grooves. If all of Abe's head shows, then your tires are too worn and should be replaced. A 5 hr trip should not stress your tires too much, unless you are traveling in deep snow or ice. Most tires should last more than 16,000 miles. Have fun on your trip!
2007-02-04 22:11:07 · answer #4 · answered by gigi 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
If the tires look NEW, they are in good shape.
If you're going to be concerned about a 5 hour trip, I would worry more about maintenance on the car prior to the trip. This means Oil Change, etc...
Don't worry about the tires. They're fine.
2007-02-05 02:23:22 · answer #5 · answered by rob1963man 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Did you buy the car brand new? Just because the car is 5 years old does not mean that the tires are that old.
2007-02-04 22:12:01 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Drive into a reputable garage and ask the attendant to check your tires for wear and tear. It sounds to me that you do not need new tired yet but.....have them checked anyways.
2007-02-09 20:50:44 · answer #7 · answered by William E 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you can afford it, spend the money and buy new tires. You may get 10K more miles off the tires. If you insist on keeping them, check them carefully for uneven tread or sidewall wear.
2007-02-04 22:15:13 · answer #8 · answered by Bad Samaritan 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
If they are still holding pressure they should be fine. Five years is not that long for tires, if it was 8 or 10 years I might buy new ones.
2007-02-04 22:08:20 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
You can take your car to a Goodyear station they will inspect for free.
2007-02-10 13:44:38 · answer #10 · answered by sunset 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋